Journal
APPLIED ENERGY
Volume 123, Issue -, Pages 66-74Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.02.060
Keywords
Direct methanol fuel cell; Ion exchange capacity; Polymer electrolyte membrane; Cross-linked interpenetrating network; Sulfonated polystyrene
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Funding
- Department of Science and Technology (DST, GUI)
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, India)
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Sodium salt of sulfonated styrene (SS) was polymerized in situ within the polymeric blend of PVdF-co-HFP/Nafion. The electrical efficiency of this cross-linked semi interpenetrating network membranes were evaluated for its potential application as a polymer electrolyte membrane in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The characteristic aromatic peaks obtained in the FT-IR spectra confirmed the successful incorporation of SS within the polymeric blend. X-ray diffraction analyses were conducted to determine the presence of crystalline and amorphous domains within the structure of the blend membrane. Water uptake measurements at room temperature indicate that above a threshold value of 20 wt% of incorporated SS (S-20), water uptake of the semi-IPN membranes increases up to 24%, with an IEC value equal to Nafion, i.e. 0.8 meq g(-1). The maximum current density was recorded to be 120 mA cm(-2) at 0.2 V, with a cell efficiency (power density) of 24 mW cm(-2) at 60 degrees C. In addition, proton conductivity and methanol permeability test results indicate that the prepared membrane S-20 is comparable to that of Nafion-117 membrane. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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